Method of polishing curved surfaces.



O. G. WYSONG.

METHOD OF POLISHING UURVED SURFACES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.11,1909.

1,082,670 Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

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onmnbo conrnz WYSONG, or GREENSBORO, Non'rHoAnoLmA.

IMIEYJIIZ-IOID OF\POLISHIN CURVEDSURFACES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 11,1909. Serial No. 47 1,79 7.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLMEDO CoR'rnz WY- sonc, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greensboro, in the county of 'Guilford and State of North Carolina, have invented abrasive or polishing belt so iisvto secure the polishingefiect where desired and avoid injury to the work, and enable the belt to be more easily applied to the work.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated a mechanism by means of which my improved method may be advantageously carried on, and in which;

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a mechanism for driving and guiding an abrasive belt, and controlling and applying the belt to the work. Fig. 2 is a detail section on line 4; o of Fig. 1 showing the position of the belt prepared or shaped to polish concave faces. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing one position of the belt in use. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a hand pad or former to apply the belt to the work. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the position of the belt preparatory to polishing convex faces. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fi 3 showing the application of the belt to convex faces. Fig. Tis a detail sectional view of a modification of the mechanism for shaping the 'belt. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of another piece or class of work designed to be polished.

My improved method is primarily applicable to polishing of solid or veneered curved surfaces or molded forms in wood work, such as piano falls, pew-backs, barfixtures, moldings, and the like, but may be advantageously applied to polishing metal and other work.

In the accompanying drawings is represented a mechanism adapted to advantageously carry out my improved method of polishing, although other mechanism and devices may be employed in place thereof.

A represents a power driven pulley.

B represents an abrasive or polishing belt driven by pulley A and supported at its opposite end upon an idler pulley, C, which is adjustable upon the frame, D, by means of a screw, d,to regulate the tension of the belt, B. The reach, I), of' the belt which is applied to the work is shapednear the respective pulleys, B, C,'to suit the work to be polished, but so that the edges of the belt will be normally farther from the face .ofthe work than the center of'the belt, also in some instances so that portions other than the edges will be farther from thework than other portions of the'belt.

In practice I employ stationary blocks of wood, E, shaped to suit the work to be treated, which are carried by metal shanks or brackets, e, which are adjustably attached to frame, D. The blocks. E, bear usually upon the rear face of the belt and give a considerable longitudinal section of the belt a curved cross-sectional pattern to suit the work to be treated. If desired, pivotally supported rollers,e, having curved faces and carried by brackets, 6 may be employed in place of blocks, E,to shape the belt, or any other mechanism which will give the desired shapeto the belt. Where necessary to securethe desired form of belt, rollers, e, may glio be applied to the abrasive face of the The work to be treated may be'conveniently supported upon 'a table, f, by means of brackets; f, and held against ehd thrust by a block, J. The top of the table should also be arranged either to tilt or to be lowered for convenience of the operator in examining the ork.

As shown in Fig. 1 the table top is elevated during the act of polishing by means of a foot treadle, f, on shaft, f, which carries cams, F, to lift the table top.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the center of the beltwhen idle or preparatory to the polishing operation is slightly out of contact with the work, and the edges of the belt are preferably still, farther out of contact with the work. The portions of the belt close to and farther from the work will vary with the pattern of the work, the object being to prevent accidental or excessive contact of .a character liable to injure the work. A movable member, H, which may be variously operated, but which is preferably a pad in the hand of the operator, or the operators hand is pressed upon the rear face of the belt to press the center and edges of the belt into contact with all parts of the work W. The pre- Patented Dec. 30, 1 913. 1

due to a tendency of the edges the tendency of the-belt liminary shapin of the belt makes possible the belt sanding of curved faces, and greatly facilitates the ease with which the belt can be pressed into contact with all parts of complicated forms. a

I am thus enabled to polish curved surfaces without liability ofmarring the work, of the belt to scratch or form ridges in the work, or to cut too deeply into the work in places, particularly the raised parts, so as to leave depressions, destroy the pattern, or to cut through veneered work in places before sufficiently polished "in others. I am also enabled to vary the polishing effect at difierent points as required by variations in the grain or nature of the work. p

The particular mechanism illustrated may be variously modified for the purpose of carryin out my improved method of polishing herein described. Also the shaping belt may be variously modified to suit the pattern of the Work in hand. I

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. The method of polishing curved surfaces which comprises employing a traveling flexible polishing belt having an active section straight in the direction of the belt travel, continuously curving the active section of said belt in cross-section over forms at opposite ends of said active section as the belt travels, to approximate the' pattern of the work to be polished, supporting the work close to but normally out of contact "with said active belt section, and by pressure locally applied to the rear face .of said active belt section, diverting said curved active belt section locally from its normal path of travel into contact with different parts of the face of the work. 2. The method of faces which comprises employing a flexible traveling polishing belt having an active polishing curved sur-- I section straight in the direction of thebelt travel, continuously curving said active belt section in cross-section as the belt travels,

'to approximate the pattern of the work to bepolished, but with the edges of the belt farther from the work than the center of the belt, supporting the work close to but normally out of contact with said active belt section, and locally diverting said previously curved active belt section from its normal path of travel into contact with different portions of the face of the work to the extent necessary to polish the work.

3. The method of polishingcurved surfaces which comprises employing a flexible traveling polishing belt, shaping the active portion of said belt primarily over forms at opposite ends of said active portion to approximately conform to the outline of the work to be treated, supporting the work close to but normally but of contact with said belt, and finally pressing the primarily shaped ,reach of the belt, to the extent required to secure a uniform polish, into contact with difi'erent parts of the face of the work.

4. The method of polishing curved surfaces which consists in employing a flexible traveling polishing belt, shaping the active reach of said belt primarily to approximately. conform to the outline of the work to be treated, supporting the work close to but normally out "of contact with the primarily shaped reach bf said belt, and finally pressing different portions of the primarily shaped reach of the belt, to the extent required, progressively into contact with different parts of the face of the work.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OLMEDO GORTEZ WYSONG.

Witnesses P. D. KERNER, W. L. SMITH. 

